Counting carbs/calories is a drag. Obsessive scale stepping is a recipe for despair. If you want to count something, "days on habit" is a much better metric. Checking off days on a calendar would do just fine, but if you do it here you get accountability and support. Here's how. Start a new topic in this forum called (say) "Your Name Daily Check In." Then every N day post a "reply" to that topic as to whether you stayed on habit. A simple "<font color="green">SUCCESS</font>" or "<font color="red">FAILURE</font>" (or your preferred euphemism if that's too harsh) is sufficient, but obviously you're welcome to write more if you want. On S-days just register that you're taking an S-day. You don't have to do this forever, just until you're confident you've built the habit. Feel free to check in weekly or monthly or sporadically instead of daily. Feel free also to track other habits besides No-s (I'm keeping this forum under No-s because that's what the vast majority are using it for). See also my <a href="/habitcal/">HabitCal</a> tool for another more formal (and perhaps complementary) way to track habits.

Hi,
I’m a bit early for 2020 but I thought I’d better start this thing before the motivation goes away.
I really let myself go the last few years. I have a thousand legitimate and less legitimate reasons why but there is no way around the fact. Really hoping that this will work for me.
It’s day one and so far so good.
I won’t be able to check other people’s threads much but will attempt to log here daily.
I really need this.

My husband and I are officially starting No S today as well. Like you said, it's a bit early for 2020, but at least we can get those first few days out of the way and start the new year with better habits.

I will try to check your thread regularly and cheer you on. Good luck to us!

Thank you whoseonfirst, ladybird and J!
Funnily, the whole family (there is four of us, two adults and two preschoolers) came down with something and I was sick after dinner last night .
I know sick days are exceptions BUT there is always someone sick here and frankly if I can’t stick to three meals when I’m nauseous then I never will . So far I’ve battled on today even though all I want to do is stuff my face with crisps and watch family TV.

So sorry to hear you've all been sick! I'm no stranger to nausea. Hopefully it'll pass soon! Do you think it'll just be a 24-48 hour bug, or do you suspect it'll be a bit more prolonged? Channeling positive energy your way!

Thank you! I hope just a short term bug. I cannot remember ever having a stomach bug since being a teenager until I had my kids that is. Now I seem to have them 4-5 times a year. But like you say, they tend to be short bursts.
I am ready for bed so I made day 2, although my dinner portion was ridiculous - within the realms of NoS ridiculous.
Any other Europeans on this site? I’m the absolute exception of my fellow citizens who are all slim and just start understanding that it’s because I clearly didn’t get the unconscious rules everyone else is following.

I'm not European, but spent a bit of time in Europe! My mother is South Asian, but my father was American (black). He was military, so we traveled a lot. I spent quite a bit of time in England and Ireland with my mother's side of the family as a child, but I reside in the United States right now. My husband is American, so I don't see myself going back to the UK anytime soon.

So I just had the last meal of the day. Even though I struggle with all the periods between meals, having snacked constantly for the last 4 years, I find the period after dinner the hardest. I’m so used to some sweet dessert or something to nibble on after dinner, especially once the kids are in bed and I am watching some MDK series (murder death kill as my husband calls the series I like such as Game of Thrones, You, Homeland). I know I could virtual plate and have some fruit but I think that would be counterproductive at this stage of NoS. I do still have to figure out how to load little enough on my plate to fit a piece of fruit too ha!

Haha, yes, I'm often asked what I am by strangers, lol. I think depending on where I travel, I'm mistaken for a few things. Here in the US, people often think I'm Dominican or Puerto Rican. When I was visiting a friend in Austria, everyone thought I was Ethiopian. It's a weird blend, I suppose, being South Asian and African American, haha. But, I like that it keeps people guessing, and it certainly makes for a great ice breaker when meeting new people!

Hmmm, I understand your dilemma all too well, only my trying time is around/after lunch. I also like to have something sweet following my meal. I've been experimenting with just eating a piece of fruit, regardless of whether it fits on the side of my plate. I will just plop my nectarine or tangerine right on top of whatever I'm having LOL. I say if it keeps us from snacking or indulging later on, it's worth it to have a bit of a top-heavy plate.

Out of curiosity, how old are your children? And where is your family from?

I bet it is!
I like the suggestion of a piece of fruit but at the moment there would be no space in my stomach right after .
But I am making porridge with fruit for breakfast.

My parents are Czech, Croatian and Italian and I grew up in Austria and the UK. When we visit my family in Austria, the Czech Republic or Italy - 90% are all thin . Not so true for my UK environment. I feel I fit right in here but not in a good way.

My kids are 1 and 3 now. Lots of time I used them as an excuse for why I’m eating. They are both thin but eat a lot so I’m constantly around it. But they are also active while I am certified lazy . The next thing I want to incorporate is a form of shovel glove once NoS is established.

Thanks automatedeating. Although only once my NoS habits are established. No idea how long that will take! It’s day 5 of my first week.
So far I definitely overate within the confines of NoS so will have to look at my portion sizes a little bit next week. It’s a difficult one as I don’t want to feel like I’m on a diet, however, while I enjoyed my week more with some order to my eating I still do want to get rid of that stuffed feeling. I tend to overeat at lunch actually so that’s good for me to know. Very bread heavy lunches. Something to watch.

I cannot believe I made it to Friday after dinner! I still have to make it to sleep time and this is my worst time but I’m still so happy.
My portions on one plate have been ridiculous but I will look at this next week. My week has been a bit crazy with being sick on Monday, having two ill toddlers all week with all the sleep deprivation that comes with (my Achilles’ heel), then yesterday I spent 4 hrs in the emergency department with the littlest one as the pharmacist had given us the wrong antibiotics (but she was all ok in the end thankfully) so even more sleep deprivation. I made this up by basically having three stacked plates of carbs or comfort food per day. I’m just happy I made it without snacks and without shovelling the kids’ treats into my mouth whenever they were not looking.

Oh wow - those stressors with the toddlers and the ER visit and everything. Sheesh, that is tough! Sleep deprivation combined with wanting "me" time when the kids were that age had me doing a lot of comfort eating. It's hard to develop new habits when we are basically just getting through the days. But it can be done, and you'll feel better for it. Hang in there! Saturday and Sunday, our pressure release valve days, are almost here.

You sound like you're doing wonderfully in spite of all the obstacles that have been thrown your way! Keep up the excellent work and focus. You've definitely got this. I also hope your kiddo is feeling much better!

So as this NoS weekend comes to a close I’ve been very surprised that while I made sure to get something I really enjoyed at each meal I mainly stuck to the three meal template with only two chocolate snacks between breakfast and lunch yesterday because I felt better doing that. I went to a kids birthday party today - thank you ifly, little one is better now! - and just didn’t feel like eating any of the food there as I had had a very filling (emotionally and physically) lunch. I doubt this will be my S day experience every week but I liked it. I also baked a gorgeous and gooey peanut butter chocolate brownie yesterday which I had for dinner yesterday and lunch and dinner today. I’m very happy with that.

Auto, thank you for picking that out as after thinking about it I believe this will be the key to whether NoS is a success or a failure for me - to make sure my meals are emotionally filling too. I absolutely love food and ultimately would rather be fat than not eat delicious food. So far though I have found NoS has actually enhanced my enjoyment of food. Having time to digest makes me feel much better physically and I am thinking hard about what I am actually eating in terms of enjoyment as well as health. I hope I can keep that up! It does require to spend some mental focus on it so I guess is the opposite of automated eating but I am hoping my strategy can also lead to success.

Someone suggested on someone else’s thread (maybe you auto?) to make Monday meals extra delicious to make sure one can get back to N days and that strategy worked very well for me today. It’s bedtime and I made it . Unlike last week, I also don’t feel like I overstuffed myself today and I stopped vertical staking. It is supposed to be a sensible diet after all. Still a diet though.

Super delicious meals on Monday absolutely seems like the way to go! I took a page from your book and had quite a decadent dinner last night. I'm suffering a bit from it today lol, but it certainly made the transition from the weekend into the work week a whole lot more appealing. Hope yours was good!

So far so green this week. I have a bad headache which might be aspartame withdrawal? I am reading all the old threads on the general discussion and came across this terrifying one talking about how someone got aspartame poisoning and now I am feeling so guilty having drunk it during pregnancy. Anyways, I’m kicking my one Diet Coke a day habit and am on day two and not feeling that well. Could be a coincidence though. I still have a coffee a day so I don’t think it is the caffeine.

Ooh, I love the idea of especially delicious meals on Mondays! That is such a hard re-entry day after the weekend in general, so it's nice to have yummy food to look forward to. I am finding in general that planning meals I really like is so helpful! It's worth the extra time and planning for sure. I hope you are soon feeling better.

Thank you J, I hope you feel better now! I do and I didn’t even crave a Diet Coke today.

So I figure I suffer from body dismorphia. I’m still in shock over my bmi and I also got some pictures from a wedding today and I am so much bigger than I thought . I’m kind of strutting my stuff like I’m some model . Previously this would have really got me down and I did wobble yesterday emotionally but I feel like I worked through it today and it’s just one more reason to commit to NoS. I know this has worked for lots of people who were moderately overweight but I am severely hoping that this will work for me too now that I have let it get so bad.

I cannot believe it is Friday and I made it. Some lunches have been a bit piled up but not so much the breakfasts and dinners. Very much looking forward to S days though. I know Reinhard says 3 weeks to build a habit but that’s when I usually get into trouble, after the 3-4week honeymoon so will not count my chickens until I did a year of this.
Also, today will be an early dinner and I’m not 100% if I particularly like it so will be harder to stay the course until tomorrow. .
I’m rereading all your tips on the keys to success chat.
Having this encouraging and non-judgemental board here makes such a difference though. It is lovely to get to know some of you and to feel supported. I’m very grateful- thank you!

Absolutely strut your stuff, baby!!!! Beauty is far bigger (pun intended) than this shell we walk around in. Let your light shine. You are so much more likely to find a lovely pattern of eating that you are happy with and feel nourished if you are feeling good about yourself.

Today I talked to someone about NoS and realised how at peace I feel with it and how simple vanilla NoS is. (Note I didn’t say easy).
I enjoyed my weekend. I very much stuck to the three meals a day on Saturday and added dessert to lunch and dinner (homemade peanut butter brownie) and had a nice French toast for breakfast. I felt good that day, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Sunday was a bit more disordered as I slept in then had nothing at home and ended up eating some treats from the kids. The whole day was a bit weird and I didn’t feel good about it, mainly physically and was happy to get back to N days. I won’t put any restrictions on S days as from all I have read that is a very silly idea so early on but I am noticing the 3 meal structure is good for me. I am enjoying it, I can plan my treats and I feel better in every respect doing it.

This week so far my meals are 50% pretty unhealthy and 50% healthy. Not ideal but so far this has got me through. It’s also an improvement to the 90% unhealthy last week. I am getting a bit more conscious of what is on my plate and am trying a bit harder to include fruit and vegetables. I don’t want to end up skinny but totally unhealthy.

I think it makes a lot of sense to be conscious of those choices, as you mentioned. However, I really encourage you to not put a lot of pressure on yourself to eat "healthy". Rather, if you do have a bit more energy on a given day, just focus on eating a delicious meal. That is sustainable, and then you can gradually make sure that the delicious food that you love to eat has good amounts of nutrients in it for you.
Another easy step might be thinking of a highly nutrient dense food that your really like, but that also happens to be easy to prepare and have on hand. For me, that's things like hard-boiled eggs, cooked meat, yogurt, nuts, and avocado single-serves. Do you have some simple foods that you also find are satisfying and you look forward to eating?

I felt so good yesterday evening when I went out with friends to a pizza place and we all had an “individual” pizza which fit on a normal sized plate! I didn’t eat a starter or dessert and just had some peppermint tea afterwards. It was plenty to keep me full all day and I felt so much better than to stuff myself.
I also told them about the diet and we had a good convo about “diet head” and how hard it is to get over it. They remain sceptical as it sounds too easy compared to slimming world and weight watchers but are thinking of trying it so we might see them here soon.

Ha about your friends and being sceptical!
My sister tried NoS at some point and she GAINED weight the first month and so she quit. She was so mad at me! To this day she rolls her eyes and teases me about my "simple" plan. It's not for everybody. I think it fits the natural introspectives, the experimenters, and the "outside the box" sort of adventurers. It does NOT fit the people that happily try out the newest diet each year (or each month)?

Ok so it is happening. I’m out of the honeymoon phase and looking for another way to lose weight quickly mentally but then I happened to come across this quote on Instagram:

Success is often putting in the work seeing no results and continuing on anyway.

I promised myself to try it until March so on I go. I might have to tighten my N days slightly.
This is all triggered by playing the 30day minimalist game and trying to sell old scales and I tried to see if they are still working and weighed myself (in the evening after dinner fully clothed) and nearly fell off it. 216 lbs. more than I thought. But I won’t divert. Just hoping I’m not gaining on this.

So yes I feel so much better on N days. I feel lighter and more in control. Of course I do have cravings though . I also believe that unless I am starting exercise ASAP I might not loose on vanilla NoS. I don’t like messing with my plates. I enjoy NoS because I enjoy my food. It is very hard to estimate without starting to count calories how much I roughly eat but I’m not sure that confining myself to one plate a day is enough. I will give it another two weeks and see how I feel.

Hi, this old timer just wanted to stop by and say that I read every single word of your thread and just love your personality. So much of what you (and others) have said rings true and brings back memories of my early NO S days. ESPECIALLY, the part about looking forward to N days and the sanity thereof.

Really want to stuff my face with chocolate tonight but will drink my yogi tea. I actually feel stuffed and weirdly my desire to eat is biggest when I feel over-full. Anyone else have that?
Oh and a lack of water. I’m a bit dehydrated.

I also had a fail yesterday. I had my portion but convinced myself that I could have had a bit more and that I was only “virtual plating” so ate the rest. Also called: being an idiot . Ah well.

Yes, I have had that happen a lot! I've found that overeating (not sure that's what you meant) for me leads to more overeating. I think in my case it might be at least partially explained by the blood sugar swings that result from this type of eating. Plain, simple eating seems to quell most of my hunger most of the time.

Yes that is exactly what I meant!
We had a terrible nights sleep yesterday thanks to two crazy toddlers and today was a struggle. I made it through with grinding teeth as sleep deprivation definitely makes me crave junk and chocolate.
Also, I continue noticing that my plates are too full but so far nothing has changed so I wonder if I have to start getting a bit stricter. I’m also not overly hungry at mealtimes so that is a bit of a red flag! I very much hope to start losing eventually.

Another S day behind me. I’m sticking to my three meals but am a bit more relaxed and have special treats as well. But two things have happened:
1) I bought special waffles I have been craving so much and then I had it - I hated it . It was way too sweet. So I ended up not eating it on Sunday but had a N day breakfast instead as I hadn’t planned on a different treat breakfast.
2) I’m going off meat a bit. Not sure why. I just don’t fancy the taste as much. I have been trying to eat more flexitarian but feel pulled towards my vegetarian dishes. I still looove cheese.
Not a terrible S day but I also wonder if it cancels out any loss from N days.

Ok so NoS green and I feel like I am starting to lose some weight now, just after I was hanging on by sheer willpower not to sabotage this and abandon ship. The big portions now just seem wrong to me. Funny how this works.

My version of shovelglove, which is a postnatal exercise regime that happens to be 11 minutes plus stretching for now and ramps up end of next week is green today too. It is meant to be done every single day but that doesn’t work for me as sets me up to fail so I will do it on N days only.

I wonder if anyone has some moral/ spiritual advice: how do you stop a mental perspective of scarcity of money please? Globally speaking we are top 10% of population just by having a roof over our head, a full fridge every day and electricity so I should be grateful every single day (which I am most days) but I had a total lapse of moral judgement and realised it was because I was jealous of a much wealthier acquaintance and that I was living in a scarcity conversation. I know this has nothing to do with NoS but given the awesome people on here I was hoping for some guidance.

Hello! So NoS is going well. I grabbed a dress today that I had bought and worn for Christmas Day and which was very tight then and it was much looser. It gave me a real boost. In general, I feel NoS is having a knock-on effect on my self-care and my self-confidence. Because binging is just not an issue on the three plates a day system so far there is also no self-hatred that comes with that usually, no guilt etc. I’m just focusing on making three plates delicious. I also have more time then before. Time spent eating and deciding whether to eat something and what at random times are freed up now. Lastly, I feel like I have more energy. So glad I stuck with it and hoping this continues.

Movement is going well but it was only day 2 today.

Last edited by Teammoney on Wed Jan 29, 2020 7:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

I did have a fail today however on NoS. Not tragic but significant. I have a cold (not to the point where it calls for an S day though) and was using my 2.5 hours alone per week (once a week one of my toddlers is in preschool while the other one spends a few hours at my mother-in-law’s) to just lie on the couch with a splitting headache. I started to feel so bad for myself as I couldn’t even nap let alone tackle my to-do-list that I ate a whole terry’s chocolate orange and a small pack of crisps . On the plus side, I didn’t escalate my fail any further and was back on track before dinner.

Success on movement. It is nice to have two systems and being able to mark one a success.

I did have a fail today however on NoS. Not tragic but significant. I have a cold (not to the point where it calls for an S day though) and was using my 2.5 hours alone per week (once a week one of my toddlers is in preschool while the other one spends a few hours at my mother-in-law’s) to just lie on the couch with a splitting headache. I started to feel so bad for myself as I couldn’t even nap let alone tackle my to-do-list that I ate a whole terry’s chocolate orange and a small pack of crisps . On the plus side, I didn’t escalate my fail any further and was back on track before dinner.

Success on movement. It is nice to have two systems and being able to mark one a success.

You did okay considering circumstances. Headaches are my gateway to a few cookies with a cup of coffee. And it's probably not the headache itself, but the stressor that caused it. Not escalating it further is always a plus; mark it down and move on. Good job.

Hello! I’m still here .
I took an S day on Friday after my 3 year old fell ill on Thursday night and I had about 2 hours sleep in 20minute increments. I know it is not technically a sick day as in it isn’t any of my sick days but it is the only way I can cope with extreme tiredness. Obviously that’s why I’m here in the first place .
Anyways, back on the horse today and I did not have an easy time, partly because I did not plan special meals today. For tomorrow I have to be more conscious about the enjoyment-quality of my food for sure. I ate vegan all day today too which is more aligned with my values but definitely not my tastebuds (yet).

So overall my first month was a roaring success. One big fail day, one small one and one extra S day. I’m not currently feeling the honeymoon phase anymore but my other toddler has the virus now and I can feel it coming on too so not much can get me to that honeymoon phase currently.
I’m incredibly grateful though that I found this way of eating and this board with all you lovely people.
Will check your threads again once everyone is healthy over here.

Hello! So after a week of red while the kids were ill (thank you, they are ok now!) I had a week of green with one extra S day on Friday when my mum arrived with some perishable goodies for my Father-in-law’s birthday. Glad to go back to the saneness tomorrow.
Our DIY project of new flooring upstairs is going well too but I have a lot of work cut out for me during this week while my mum is here decluttering. It seems never ending. I did the minimalist game and got up to 365 items out of the house and I haven’t even touched upstairs and we have a small house!
Hope everyone is well!